[citation needed] The station started broadcasting on 1548 kHz/194m AM, 95.2 and 95.9 MHz FM under the name of Radio Hallam from its studios at Hartshead in Sheffield city centre on 1 October 1974.

The first presenter heard on air was ex-BBC Radio 1 DJ Johnny Moran – the first record he played was I've Got the Music in Me by Kiki Dee, which stuck after a minute and a half.

After a take-over of the parent company YRN by the Metro Radio Group, the AM frequency became Great Yorkshire Gold.

[citation needed] As the Metro Radio Group was bought by EMAP, Hallam FM also became part of the Big City Network in Northern England.

In 2011, Bauer Media's Big City Network was replaced by the Place Portfolio, containing the group's local radio stations.

[5][6] The station's only remaining local programme is the long-running Big John @ Breakfast, which is produced and broadcast from Bauer's Sheffield studios and airs weekdays from 6–10 am.